Sunday, December 28, 2008

Back from my Christmas trip

Visited friends over the holidays. Had a good visit, but caught some kinda low-grade bug and have been under the weather for a couple days. There's nothing like your own place and your own bed when you're feelin' po'ly.

Went to Fort Laramie on Friday. Interesting place, but jehosaphat that parade ground is a cold, cold place. The temp was only about 25° but a constant frigid NW wind at about 25-30 MPH made the place almost unbearable.

Saw the John "Portugee" Phillips monument. Immediately following the Fetterman "massacre" Phillips (a civilian scout) volunteered to ride to Ft. Laramie for help since Fort Phil Kearney didn't have enough troops to even hold the wall in the event of a major Indian attack which was expected at any moment. He made the 235 mile ride in two days, on 24, 25 December 1866, in a blizzard and sub-zero temperatures. Not surprisingly, his horse (a fast Kentucky thoroughbred belonging to the post commander) died soon after he arrived. Standing there on that wind-swept and icy cold parade ground I had a small inkling of what man and horse suffered. They made men back then!

Glad you are home and hope you feel better soon. My gallstone passed so I'm feeling slightly better. Doc said it's a kind that's genetics based not diet, which is good news, as despite the weekly food porn I eat really healthy 95 percent of the time.

Glad I had friends around to perk me up, and hope the dogs are good company for you until you do as well.

We visited Fort Laramie in August 2000. Day was a scorcher, 105 in the shade. The reenactors were suffering in their woolen uniforms. I thought about those troopers from long ago who could never escape the brutal heat or cold. We have no clue what they endured on that lonely, isolated post so far from civilization. God bless them and may they rest in peace.